Water heater for fireplaces



4 Sheets-Sheet 1 F. STENZEL WATER HEATER FOR FIREPLACES Filed Dec. 25,

April 27, 1937.

FRANK STLNzr- L April 27, 1937. F, STENZEL 2,078,514v

v WATER HEATER FOR FIREPLACES Filed DSC. 25, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2(Iftomeg April 27, 1937. F. sTENzEL WATER HEATER FOR FIREPLACES 4Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 23, 1935 Srwentor PRANK STaNzLL Gttorne-gApril 27, 1937. STENZEL 2,078,514

WATER HEATER FOR FIREPLACES Filed Dec. 25, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4vnventor Funk STeNzEL.

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attorney l Patented Apr. 27, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE Myinvention relates to devices for heating Water for either domestic ofheating purposes, which devices are installed in an open fireplace in amanner that they do not obstruct the er1-- joyment of such fireplacewhile at the same time utilizing much of the heat which is normallywasted.

An object of the invention is to provide asectional, tubular waterheater which maybe conveniently installed in fireplaces therebyutilizing heat from such fireplaces which is ordinarily lost for auseful purpose.

`Anobject of the invention is to construct the heater in sections inorder that its capacity may be increased or decreased by merely addingor subtracting sections.-

An object of the invention is to provide a means insertablev within suchheater which will cause iiuid to follow a circuitous path therethrough.

In the accompanying drawings I lillustrate what I consider to be apreferred embodimentof my invention, wherein Figure `lis a frontelevation of a fireplace showing in front elevation my inventioninstalled therein. Figure 2 is` an end elevation of the invention takenfrom the'y line 2-2 of Figure 1. Figures 3 and 4 are sectional viewstaken on section lines 3-3 and 4 4 respectively, in Figure 1. Figure 5is a plan of the basal section of the upper heater. Figure 6 is a frontelevation of the basal section of theupper heater. Figure 7 is a planview of a superposed section of the upper heater.` Figure 8 is afragmentary plan of a superposed section illustrating the means forconnecting the units of the upper one to another, and the baffle memberemployed for inducing a circulation of water in the several sections.Figure 9 is a perspective of the lower or tank heater. This view alsoillustrates the sliding grate associated therewith. Figure 10 is adiagrammatic view illustrating the manner the two heaters are connectedin order to serve the purposes for which they are intended.

Definitions heated to heat transfer units and back again to the heaterfor reheating. 4

'Ihe term tank heater refers to a secondary heater employed for heatingwater whichmay be drawn off for use, such for instance, as at taps,hydrants, wash basins, bathtubs, sinks, etc., for a hot Waterdistribution system.

Specification- In the drawings, I indicates a recessed fireplace whichis open at the front. 'I'he bed of the fire. place is below the level ofthe iioor providing a pit 2 which is coextensive with the length anddepth of such fireplace with the exception of side ledges 3. Seatingupon the ledges 3 is a tank heater 4, Figure 9, which is a hollowgenerally U-shape member consisting of a center portion 4m and twoparallel legs 4b'. The hollow construction of the tank heater providesan interior chamber 4c within the-U-member. Running lengthwise of eachleg 4h is a ledge 40E forming a track to receive the slides 5 of theslidable partition 6; Slides 5 are projecting flanges on the ends 'I ofsuch partition.,A Partition 6, the purpose and'operation of Which willbe described later, is an inclined flat body between its upright ends 1.The lower end thereof terminates in spaced downwardly directed bars 8.In each leg of the U-shaped member is a threaded apertured boss 9 toreceive pipe connections such as diagrammatically illustrated in Figure10 wherein a hot water distribution system is connected to the tankheater. This system consists of the hot Water storage tank IU, the hotWater supply pipe I I and the return pipe I2. The hot water in tank I5may be drawn off as desired through suitable' connections (not shown).

Mounted upon the tank heater 4 adjacent th rear wall of the fireplaceand spaced from the front opening thereof is the heater I3 whichsupplies hot water to a heating system. Heater I3 is of rsectionalconstruction, consisting of a basal section I3a and a number ofsuperposed sections I3b. The number of sections employed as well astheir capacity depends upon the area to be heated, the larger the areathe greater the capacity and the larger the number of sections. Thebasal section I3a consists of a hollow body `em.- bodying transverse endtubes I4, one longitudinal tube I5 connecting an end of. each transversetube I4, and two longitudinal tubes I6 elevated somewhat above tubes I4and I5. A flange connection I1 having a passage I3 is situated midwaythe length of tubes I6. Passage I8 communicates with the interior spaceor ,passage I9 of each tube, and the passage of each tube communicateswith the passage of the others. The under sides of the tubes are flat asshown at 2li and the upper sides are rounding as shown at 2|, as shownin Figures 3 and 4. Section I3a rests with the attened undersides 20 oftubes I4 and I5 upon the tank heater. The tubes I4 project forwardlysomewhat from the tubes I6. Each tube I4 is provided with a boss 22apertured and threaded to receive pipe connection. In preferred practiceconnection is made to one boss the other being plugged, this connectionbeing the return of a heating system.

Sections I3b, in each instance, compriser four longitudinal tubes 23joined by two transverse end tubes 24 and a transverse central tube 3.5,Y

cating passage or chamber 25 is provided in al1-v the tubes.V At thebottom of each sectionv is a boss 26 having a passage 21 communicatingwith passages 25. This passage and boss'is located" at the center of theunderside portion ofthe section. Projecting upwardly from one of thecentral tubes and the cross tube 35 is a boss l28 having a passage 29communicating with passage 25. Ex-l amination of the section shows thatboss 28 and passage 29 are located one side of the longitudinal centerline of the section and are staggered relative to the boss 26 andpassage 21 so that one longitudinal tube is beneath the boss andpassage, two tubes are to one side thereof, and one tube to the oppositeside thereof. By reversing the upper sections with regard to theimmediate lower sections a staggered assembly is obtained wherein theiirst section I3b projects rearwardly, the next forwardly, the nextrearwardly,v and so on. This arrangement places the spacing between thelongitudinal tubes of the immediate lower section beneath thelongitudinal tubes of the immediate upper section. This provides acircuitous passage for the travel of heat and flames. It also providesfor flames and heat` to come into contact with the longitudinal tubes ofeach of the superposed sections. In the drawings, Figure 4, fivesuperposed sections I3b are employed. These are mounted one aboveanother spaced apart by means of the bosses 26V and 28 and held togetherby the rods 45 which have their lower ends threaded into flangedconnection I'I. To the topmost fitting is attached an elbow 3l toreceive a pipe connection. Prior to securing the e1- bow in place abaille bar is passed down through the several passages 21 and 29. Thisbar designated by the numeral 32 is a flat bar one side of which abutsone wall of passage 2l and the opposite side abuts the opposite wall ofpassage 29. The purpose of this bar will be touched upon later. Theundersides of the tubes are attened asv at 33 to provide a baflie facefor the heat and `iiames, while the upper sides are rounded as at 34 inorder to reduce impedance to the travel of heat and ames.

In operation heater I3 is connected to a heating system as shown inFigure 10. The system consistsof a feed line 36 and a return line 3lconnected respectively to. elbow 3I and boss 22. The system includesradiators 38. Observing Figure 4, the return connects with the basalsection I3a, circulates therethrough and thence passes upward throughoutlet I8 to inlet 21 of superposed section |31). The flow is deflectedto the left, observing this gure, by the baflie 32 to the tubes 23 tothe left of outlet 29, thence through cross tubes 24 to the tubes 23connecting with the outlet.

From thence the water passes through outlet 29 and through inlet 2'I tothe next section in this instance being deflected to the right,circulating through such section to the Outlet and thence to the nextsection whence the flow is deflected to the left. The purpose of thebaffle bar is to deect the water ow to the right or left in accordancewith the position of the section, to compel the iiow to pass through thetubes remote fromV the outlet of such section, and thence to the tubesproximate the outlet. This deflection of the water ow is maintaineduntil it reaches the nal outlet and elbow 3I. This control of thecirculation of water passing through the heater brings it into contactwith all heated surfaces of such heater and ensures a thorough transferof A. exterior heat to the water. The staggered mounting of thesuperposed sections places the longitudinal tubes of a lower sectionbeneath the spacing. between like tubes of a superposed section, thuswhen the hot gases and flames pass through the spacings they come intoclose contact with the tube beneath such spacing, thereby Autilizingmuch of the heat ordinarily lost in a fireplace; The sectionalconstruction permits the capacity of the heater to be increased ordecreased, by adding or subtracting superposed sections'.` In conclusionit may be stated that Where a fireplace has sufcient capacity to heat aroom, the employment of the heater willy utilize sufficient wasted heatto heat three additional rooms equally as well, and each room sor heatedhaving an area not less than the room heatedl by the fireplace.

Returning to Figures 3 and 9, the slidable partiton is designed tocontrol the burning fuel area in the replace. It may be desirable tohave a fire in the fireplace without heating the heater I3, in whichevent the partition is positioned as shown in Figure 3. A re is builtbetween the partition and thefront of the fireplace. The partition holdssuch flre well out of reach of the heater I3. For this purpose thepartition is reversed upon the tank heater 4 with regard to its presentposition. However, when the fireplace is employed both for radiantheating and heating the heater I3, theY partition is moved forwardly toallow suiicient space between it and the rear wall. of the fireplace tobuild a re which will provide radiant heat and also heat heater I3. Whenit is desired to concentrate the heat upon the heater a deflector 5I)may be employed. This is shaped to deflect. the flames and hot gasesagainstthe heater, and is provided with an opening 5I for the insertiono-f fuel.

In order to aid combustion of the fuel burning in the fireplace, I haveprovided a draft means consisting of a draft ue 4I] leading to thebottom of. the pit. Air passes through this iiue to the flames. In orderto control the draft there is provided aV damper 4I operated by a handle42 placed convenient to the replace.

While a specific form of the improvement has Vbeen described andillustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may bevaried, Within the scope of the appended claims, without departing. fromthe spirit of the invention.

Having described my invention, I claim:-

1. A heater of the class specified including a basal section and aplurality of superposed sections, the basal section comprisinglongitudinal tubes and cross tubes having connecting passages, an outletleading therefrom and connected to the inlet of a superposed section,the superposed sections each having an inlet and an outlet the inlet ofthe one connected to the outlet of the other, each superposed sectionconsisting of longitudinal tubes and cross tubes forming passages whichcommunicates with the inlet and outlet, and a baille member insertablein the inlets and outlets to direct a water flow from the inlet throughcertain longitudinal tubes first, and thence through the remaininglongitudinal tubes to the outlet.

2. A heater of the class specied, a basal section and a plurality ofsuperposed sections, each section being of spaced longitudinal tubes andcross tubes all having communicating passages, said sections havinginlets and outlets communicating with one another, the outlets of thesuperposed sections being staggered relative to the inlets and eachsuperposed section being in reversed position relative to the sectionabove and below so that such sections alternately project rearwardly andforwardly, means in the uppermost section and in the basal section formaking connection to a heating system, and a baille bar insertable inthe inlets and outlets of the superposed sections for directing the flowof water through all the tubes of each superposed section.

3. A heater of the class specied, a basal section and a plurality ofsuperposed sections; each section comprising spaced longitudinal tubesand cross tubes forming intercommunicating passages, each section havingan inlet and outlet providing communication between sections, theoutlets of the superposed sections being in staggered relation to theinlets and each superposed section being in reversed position relativeto the section above and below so that such sections alternately projectrearwardly and forwardly, and means in the uppermost and basal sectionsfor making connection to a heating system.

4. A heater of the class specified, comprising a plurality of sectionsdisposed one above the other, said sections having communicatingpassages including inlets and outlets leading from one section to theother and being staggered relative to one another with alternatesections projecting in one direction and the remainder in the oppositedirection, an inlet to the lowermost section and an outlet from theuppermost section for connection with a heating system, and meansinsertable in the sections for directing Water to ilow through allpasages in each section.

FRANK STENZEL.

